LeBron James Set for Record 20th Christmas Day Game vs. Durant and the Rockets

He says he would rather be with family, feeling a duty to play for fans.

Overview

The Lakers host Houston at Crypto.com Arena on Dec. 25, marking James’s 20th Christmas appearance and extending his NBA record.
This will be the first Christmas Day meeting between James and Kevin Durant since 2018.
James leads the holiday record book with 507 points, 19 games played, 180 field goals, a share of the three-pointers lead at 31, and 11 wins.
He has returned from a sciatica issue to average 20.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 7.1 assists over 11 games on 48% shooting.
Coverage notes he is in the final year of his Lakers contract, creating uncertainty about future Christmas appearances.